Power amplification circuit

ABSTRACT

Provided is a power amplification circuit that includes: a first transistor that has an emitter to which a first radio frequency signal is supplied, a base to which a first DC control current or DC control voltage is supplied and a collector that outputs a first output signal that corresponds to the first radio frequency signal; a first amplifier that amplifies the first output signal and outputs a first amplified signal; and a first control circuit that supplies the first DC control current or DC control voltage to the base of the first transistor in order to control output of the first output signal.

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/880,675 filed on Jan. 26, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/381,528 filed on Dec. 16, 2016, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-064501 filed on Mar. 28, 2016. The contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a power amplification circuit.

A power amplification circuit is used in a mobile communication device such as a cellular phone in order to amplify the power of a radio frequency (RF) signal to be transmitted to a base station. When a plurality of amplifiers is used together in a power amplification circuit for example, a switch is employed to control switching on and off of the amplifiers in order to reduce current consumption. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-278109 discloses a high-frequency switch that is formed of two cascode-connected bipolar transistors.

In the high-frequency switch disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-278109, an input signal is supplied to the base of a first-stage bipolar transistor and an output signal is output from the collector of a second-stage bipolar transistor in accordance with a control signal supplied to the base of the second-stage bipolar transistor. However, since the two bipolar transistors of the switch are cascode connected with each other, the amplitude of the output signal is restricted by the saturation voltages of these transistors. Therefore, the amplitude of the output signal is restricted and the output signal is likely to be distorted when a large signal is input. Consequently, it is difficult to achieve desired linearity characteristics and the operational range in which the switch can be used is narrow. Furthermore, since the bipolar transistor of the second stage needs to be of such a size as to be able to supply a current of the same size as the current supplied to the bipolar transistor of the first stage, an increase in circuit area is incurred due to an increase in the number of elements.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure was made in light of the above-described circumstances and to provide a power amplification circuit that includes a switch circuit that can be used even when a large signal is input and that suppresses an increase in circuit area.

A power amplification circuit according an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first transistor that has an emitter to which a first radio frequency signal is supplied, a base to which a first DC control current or DC control voltage is supplied and a collector that outputs a first output signal that corresponds to the first radio frequency signal; a first amplifier that amplifies the first output signal and outputs a first amplified signal; and a first control circuit that supplies the first DC control current or DC control voltage to the base of the first transistor in order to control output of the first output signal.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, a power amplification circuit can be provided that includes a switch that can be used even when a large signal is input and that suppresses an increase in circuit area.

Other features, elements, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example configuration of a power amplification circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the configuration of a control circuit;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the configuration of an amplifier;

FIG. 4 illustrates another example configuration of the power amplification circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates another example configuration of the power amplification circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates another example configuration of the power amplification circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7A is a graph illustrating simulation results of the frequency dependency of insertion loss in a power amplification circuit;

FIG. 7B is a graph illustrating simulation results of the frequency dependency of insertion loss in the power amplification circuit;

FIG. 8A is a graph illustrating simulation results of the frequency dependency of insertion loss in the power amplification circuit;

FIG. 8B is a graph illustrating simulation results of the frequency dependency of insertion loss in the power amplification circuit;

FIG. 9A is a graph illustrating simulation results of the frequency dependency of insertion loss in the power amplification circuit;

FIG. 9B is a graph illustrating simulation results of the frequency dependency of insertion loss in the power amplification circuit;

FIG. 10A is a graph illustrating simulation results of the frequency dependency of insertion loss in the power amplification circuit; and

FIG. 10B is a graph illustrating simulation results of the frequency dependency of insertion loss in the power amplification circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail while referring to the drawings. Elements that are the same as each other will be denoted by the same symbols and repeated description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example configuration (power amplification circuit 100A) of a power amplification circuit 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The power amplification circuit 100A amplifies an input signal RF_(in) and outputs an amplified signal RF_(AMP).

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the power amplification circuit 100A includes a bipolar transistor Tr1, a resistance element R1, a capacitor C1, a control circuit 110, amplifiers 120 and 121 and matching networks 130, 131, 132 and 133.

The input signal RF_(in) (first radio frequency signal) is supplied to the emitter of the bipolar transistor Tr1 (first transistor) via the matching network 130, a control voltage V_(cont) is supplied to the base of the bipolar transistor Tr1, and the bipolar transistor Tr1 outputs an output signal RF_(out) (first output signal) from the collector thereof. In addition, the emitter of the bipolar transistor Tr1 is DC grounded via the resistance element R1 and the base of the bipolar transistor Tr1 is AC grounded via the capacitor C1. Operation of the bipolar transistor Tr1 will be described in detail later.

One end of the resistance element R1 is connected to the emitter of the bipolar transistor Tr1 and the other end of the resistance element R1 is grounded. The resistance element R1 DC grounds the emitter of the bipolar transistor Tr1.

One end of the capacitor C1 is connected to the base of the bipolar transistor Tr1 and the other end of the capacitor C1 is grounded. The capacitor C1 AC grounds the base of the bipolar transistor Tr1.

The control circuit 110 (first control circuit) supplies the control voltage V_(cont) (first DC control voltage), which corresponds to a voltage V1 supplied from outside the power amplification circuit 100A, to the base of the bipolar transistor Tr1.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the configuration of the control circuit 110. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the control circuit 110 includes bipolar transistors 200, 201 and 202 and a resistance element 210.

The bipolar transistors 200 and 201 are each configured to generate a voltage of a prescribed level. Specifically, the collector and the base of the bipolar transistor 200 are connected to each other (hereafter, “diode connected”), the voltage V1 is supplied to the collector of the bipolar transistor 200 and the emitter of the bipolar transistor 200 is connected to the collector of the bipolar transistor 201. The bipolar transistor 201 is diode connected, the collector thereof is connected to the emitter of the bipolar transistor 200 and emitter of the bipolar transistor 201 is connected to ground. Thus, a voltage of a prescribed level (for example, around 2.6 V) is generated at the base of the bipolar transistor 200. Diodes may be used instead of the bipolar transistors 200 and 201.

A power supply voltage Vcc is supplied to the collector of the bipolar transistor 202, the base of the bipolar transistor 202 is connected to the base of the bipolar transistor 200 and the emitter of the bipolar transistor 202 is connected to one end of the resistance element 210. The bipolar transistor 202 supplies the control voltage V_(cont) from the emitter thereof to the base of the bipolar transistor Tr1 via the resistance element 210.

Thus, the control circuit 110 forms an emitter-follower-type bias circuit that supplies the control voltage V_(cont) (bias voltage) to the base of the bipolar transistor Tr1. The control circuit 110 can switch the bipolar transistor Tr1 on and off by controlling the control voltage V_(cont) supplied to the base of the bipolar transistor Tr1. Thus, the bipolar transistor Tr1 functions as a switch. The control circuit 110 can be given a temperature compensation function by forming the control circuit 110 using bipolar transistors that are the same as the bipolar transistor Tr1.

Returning to FIG. 1, the amplifiers 120 and 121 form a two-stage amplification circuit. The amplifier 120 (first amplifier) (drive stage) amplifies the output signal RF_(out) (first output signal) input via the matching network 131 and outputs an amplified signal RF_(amp) (first amplified signal). The amplified signal RF_(amp) output from the amplifier 120 is input to the amplifier 121 via the matching network 132. The amplifier 121 (power stage) amplifies the amplified signal RF_(amp) and outputs the amplified signal RF_(AMP) via the matching network 133. In this embodiment, an example is illustrated in which the number of amplifier stages is two, but the number of amplifier stages is not limited to two and may be one or three or more.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the configuration of the amplifier 120. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the amplifier 120 includes a bipolar transistor 300.

The power supply voltage Vcc is supplied to the collector of the bipolar transistor 300 via an inductor 310, the output signal RF_(out) is input to the base of the bipolar transistor 300 and the bipolar transistor 300 has a common emitter. In addition, a bias current Ibias is supplied to the base of the bipolar transistor 300. The amplified signal RF_(amp) is output from the collector of the bipolar transistor 300. In this embodiment, description is given using a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) as an example of a transistor, but a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) may be used as the transistor instead. In addition, since the configuration of the amplifier 121 is the same as that of the amplifier 120, detailed description thereof is omitted.

Returning to FIG. 1, the matching networks (MNs) 130, 131, 132 and 133 are provided in order to match impedances between the circuits. The matching networks 130, 131, 132 and 133 are formed using inductors and capacitors, for example. The matching network 130 is formed of a high pass filter circuit or a low pass filter circuit, for example.

Operation of the bipolar transistor Tr1 of the power amplification circuit 100A is controlled in accordance with the control voltage V_(cont) supplied to the base of the bipolar transistor Tr1. Specifically, when a comparatively high control voltage V_(cont) is supplied to the base of the bipolar transistor Tr1 and the base-emitter voltage of the bipolar transistor Tr1 is higher than a threshold voltage, the bipolar transistor Tr1 switches on and the output signal RF_(out) is output. On the other hand, when a comparatively low control voltage V_(cont) (for example, 0 V) is supplied to the base of the bipolar transistor Tr1 and the base-emitter voltage of the bipolar transistor Tr1 is lower than the threshold voltage, the bipolar transistor Tr1 switches off and the output signal RF_(out) is not output. Thus, the bipolar transistor Tr1 functions as a switch that controls whether the input signal RF_(in) is allowed to pass therethrough in accordance with the control voltage V_(cont).

In this embodiment, the control circuit 110 generates a control voltage, but the control circuit 110 may control operation of the bipolar transistor Tr1 by using a control current (first DC control current) instead of a control voltage. Specifically, the control circuit 110 may switch the bipolar transistor Tr1 on by supplying a comparatively large control current (for example, around several hundred μA to 1 mA) to the base of the bipolar transistor Tr1 and may switch the bipolar transistor Tr1 off by supplying a comparatively small control current (for example, around 0 mA) to the base of the bipolar transistor Tr1.

With the above-described configuration, the single bipolar transistor Tr1 controls switching on and off of passage of the input signal RF_(in) in the power amplification circuit 100A. Therefore, since there is no need to cascode connect two bipolar transistors as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-278109, degradation in the form of distortion characteristics caused by a saturation voltage when a large signal is input is suppressed compared with the configuration described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-278109. Furthermore, an increase in circuit area is suppressed compared with a configuration in which a switch circuit is provided outside the power amplification circuit and compared with the configuration described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-278109. Therefore, with the power amplification circuit 100A, a power amplification circuit can be provided that includes a switch that can be used even when a large signal is input and that suppresses an increase in circuit area.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example configuration (power amplification circuit 100B) of the power amplification circuit 100. Constituent elements that are the same as those of the power amplification circuit 100A illustrated in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same symbols and description thereof is omitted. In addition, in the embodiment described hereafter illustration of amplifiers subsequent to the amplifier of the second stage is omitted.

A power amplification circuit 100B is formed by connecting n (n is a natural number) power amplification circuits 100A in parallel with each other for a single input signal RF_(in). Specifically, the power amplification circuit 100B includes n bipolar transistors Tr1, Tr2, . . . , and Trn, the resistance element R1, n capacitors Ca1, Ca2, . . . , and Can, n control circuits 110 a 1, 110 a 2, . . . , and 110 an, n amplifiers 120 a 1, 120 a 2, . . . , and 120 an, the matching network 130 and n matching networks 131 a 1, 131 a 2, . . . , and 131 an.

The input signal RF_(in) is supplied to the commonly connected emitters of the bipolar transistor Tr1 (first transistor), the bipolar transistor Tr2 (second transistor), . . . , and the bipolar transistor Trn (nth transistor) via the matching network 130. In addition, control voltages V_(cont) 1, V_(cont) 2, . . . and V_(cont)n generated by the control circuits 110 a 1, 110 a 2, . . . , and 110 an are supplied to the bases of the bipolar transistors Tr1, Tr2, . . . , and Trn. The bipolar transistors Tr1, Tr2, . . . , and Trn respectively output output signals RF_(out) 1 (first output signal), RF_(out) 2 (second output signal), . . . , and RF_(out)n (nth output signal) that correspond to the input signal RF_(in) from the collectors thereof.

The configurations of the resistance element R1, the capacitors Ca1, Ca2, . . . , to Can and the matching networks 130, 131 a, 131 a 2, . . . , to 131 an are the same as those in the power amplification circuit 100A and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted. In this embodiment, a plurality of bipolar transistors share a single resistance element R1, but a resistance element may instead be provided for each bipolar transistor.

The control circuit 110 a 1 (first control circuit), the control circuit 110 a 2 (second control circuit), . . . , and the control circuit 110 an (nth control circuit) respectively generate voltages that correspond to voltages Va1, Va2, . . . , and Van supplied from outside the power amplification circuit 100B and supply control voltages V_(cont) 1 (first DC control voltage), V_(cont) 2 (second DC control voltage), . . . , and V_(cont)n (nth DC control voltage) to the bases of the bipolar transistors Tr1, Tr2, . . . , and Trn. For example, the bipolar transistor Tr1 is turned on by the supply of a comparatively high control voltage V_(cont) 1 and the bipolar transistors Tr2, . . . , and Trn are switched off by the supply of comparatively low control voltages V_(cont) 2, . . . , and V_(cont)n. Thus, the input signal RF_(in) only passes through the bipolar transistor Tr1 and the output signal RF_(out) 1 output by the bipolar transistor Tr1 can be selectively supplied to the amplifier 120 a 1. The configurations of the control circuits 110 a 1, 110 a 2, . . . , and 110 an are the same as that of the control circuit 110 and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted.

The amplifiers 120 a 1 (first amplifier), 120 a 2 (second amplifier), . . . , and 120 an (nth amplifier) respectively amplify the output signals RF_(out) 1, RF_(out) 2, . . . , and RF_(out)n input via the matching networks 131 a 1, 131 a 2, . . . , and 131 an and output amplified signals RF_(amp) 1 (first amplified signal), RF_(amp) 2 (second amplified signal), . . . , and RF_(amp) (nth amplified signal). The configurations of the amplifiers 120 a 1, 120 a 2, . . . , and 120 an are the same as that of the amplifier 120 and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted.

In this configuration as well, each of the bipolar transistors Tr1, Tr2, . . . , and Trn controls switching on and off of passage of the input signal RF_(in), similarly to as in the power amplification circuit 100A. Therefore, with the power amplification circuit 100B, a power amplification circuit can be provided that includes a switch that can be used even when a large signal is input and that suppresses an increase in circuit area. Thus, when an amplification mode (low power mode or high power mode, etc.) is to be switched in accordance with the signal level of the input signal RF_(in), for example, the input signal RF_(in) can be selectively supplied to any of the amplifiers among the amplifiers 120 a 1, 120 a 2, . . . , and 120 an by using the bipolar transistors Tr1, Tr2, . . . , Trn as switches.

FIG. 5 illustrates another example configuration (power amplification circuit 100C) of the power amplification circuit 100. Constituent elements that are the same as those of the power amplification circuit 100A illustrated in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same symbols and description thereof is omitted.

A power amplification circuit 100C is provided with N (N is a natural number) parallel-connected paths (signal input paths) that each contain the components of the power amplification circuit 100A illustrated in FIG. 1 up to the matching network 131 and has a common path after the matching network 131. Specifically, the power amplification circuit 100C includes N bipolar transistors TR1, TR2, . . . , and TRN, N resistance elements R1, R2, . . . , and RN, N capacitors C1, C2, . . . , and CN, N control circuits 110A1, 110A2, . . . , and 110AN, the amplifier 120, N matching networks 130A1, 130A2, . . . , and 130AN and the matching network 131.

Input signals RF_(IN) 1 (first radio frequency signal), RF_(IN) 2 (second radio frequency signal), . . . , and RF_(IN)N (Nth radio frequency signal) are respectively supplied to the emitters of the bipolar transistors TR1 (first transistor), TR2 (third transistor), . . . , and TRN (Nth transistor) via the matching networks 130A1, 130A2, . . . , and 130AN. In addition, control voltages V_(CONT) 1, V_(CONT) 2, . . . , and V_(CONT)N generated by the control circuits 110A1, 110A2, . . . , and 110AN are respectively supplied to the bases of the bipolar transistors TR1, TR2, . . . , and TRN. The bipolar transistors TR1, TR2, . . . , and TRN respectively output output signals RF_(OUT) 1 (first output signal), RF_(OUT) 2 (third output signal), . . . , and RF_(OUT)N (Nth output signal) that correspond to the input signals RF_(IN) 1, RF_(IN) 2, . . . , and RF_(IN)N from the collectors thereof.

The configurations of the resistance elements R1, R2, . . . , and RN, the capacitors C1, C2, . . . , and CN, and the matching networks 130A1, 130A2, . . . , 130AN, and 131 are the same as those in the power amplification circuit 100A and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted.

The control circuits 110A1 (first control circuit), 110A2 (third control circuit), . . . , and 110AN (Nth control circuit) respectively generate voltages that correspond to voltages VA1, VA2, . . . , and VAN supplied from outside the power amplification circuit 100C and supply control voltages V_(CONT) 1 (first DC control voltage), V_(CONT) 2 (third DC control voltage), . . . , and V_(CONT)N (Nth DC control voltage) to the bases of the bipolar transistors TR1, TR2, . . . , and TRN. The configurations of the control circuits 110A1, 110A2, . . . , and 110AN are the same as that of the control circuit 110 and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted.

The output signals RF_(OUT) 1, RF_(OUT) 2, . . . , and RF_(OUT)N are input to the amplifier 120 via the matching network 131. The amplifier 120 amplifies the output signals and outputs the resulting amplified signal RF_(amp).

In this configuration as well, the bipolar transistors TR1, TR2, . . . , and TRN control switching on and off of passage of the input signals RF_(IN) 1, RF_(IN) 2, . . . , and RF_(IN)N, similarly to as in the power amplification circuit 100A. Therefore, with the power amplification circuit 100C, a power amplification circuit can be provided that includes a switch that can be used even when a large signal is input and that suppresses an increase in circuit area. For example, the power amplification circuit 100C can be applied to a multiband power amplification circuit in which input signals RF_(IN) 1, RF_(IN) 2, . . . , and RF_(IN)N of different frequencies share a single amplifier 120.

FIG. 6 illustrates another example configuration (power amplification circuit 100D) of the power amplification circuit 100. Constituent elements that are the same as those of the power amplification circuit 100A illustrated in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same symbols and description thereof is omitted.

A power amplification circuit 100D has a configuration obtained by combining the power amplification circuit 100B illustrated in FIG. 4 and the power amplification circuit 100C illustrated in FIG. 5. Specifically, the power amplification circuit 100D includes bipolar transistors Tra1, Tra2, Trb1 and Trb2, resistance elements Ra and Rb, capacitors Ca1, Ca2, Cb1 and Cb2, control circuits 110 a 1, 110 a 2, 110 b 1 and 110 b 2, amplifiers 120 a and 120 b and matching networks 130 a, 130 b, 131 a and 131 b.

An input signal RF_(in)A (first radio frequency signal) is supplied to the commonly connected emitters of the bipolar transistors Tra1 (first transistor) and Tra2 (second transistor) via the matching network 130 a. In addition, control voltages V_(cont)a1 and V_(cont)a2 generated by the control circuits 110 a 1 and 110 a 2 are respectively supplied to the bases of the bipolar transistors Tra1 and Tra2. The bipolar transistors Tra1 and Tra2 respectively output output signals RF_(out)A1 (first output signal) and RF_(out)A2 (second output signal) corresponding to the input signal RF_(in)A from the collectors thereof.

Similarly, an input signal RF_(in)B (third radio frequency signal) is supplied to the commonly connected emitters of the bipolar transistors Trb1 (fourth transistor) and Trb2 (fifth transistor) via the matching network 130 b. In addition, control voltages V_(cont)b1 and V_(cont)b2 generated by the control circuits 110 b 1 and 110 b 2 are respectively supplied to the bases of the bipolar transistors Trb1 and Trb2. The bipolar transistors Trb1 and Trb2 respectively output output signals RF_(out)B1 (fourth output signal) and RF_(out)B2 (fifth output signal) corresponding to the input signal RF_(in)B from the collectors thereof.

The configurations of the resistance elements Ra and Rb, the capacitors Ca1, Ca2, Cb1 and Cb2 and matching network 130 a, 130 b, 131 a and 131 b are the same as those in the power amplification circuit 100A and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted.

The control circuits 110 a 1 (first control circuit), 110 a 2 (second control circuit), 110 b 1 (fourth control circuit) and 110 b 2 (fifth control circuit) respectively supply the control voltages V_(cont)a1 (first DC control voltage), V_(cont)a2 (second DC control voltage), V_(cont)b1 (fourth DC control voltage) and V_(cont)b2 (fifth DC control voltage) corresponding to the voltages Va1, Va2, Vb1 and Vb2 supplied from outside the power amplification circuit 100D to the bases of the bipolar transistors Tra1, Tra2, Trb1 and Trb2. The configurations of the control circuits 110 a 1, 110 a 2, 110 b 1 and 110 b 2 are the same as that of the control circuit 110 and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted.

The output signal RF_(out)A1 or the output signal RF_(out)B1 is input to the amplifier 120 a (first amplifier) via the matching network 131 a. Then, the amplifier 120 a amplifies the output signal and outputs a resulting amplified signal RF_(amp)A (first amplified signal).

Similarly, the output signal RF_(out)A2 or the output signal RF_(out)B2 is input to the amplifier 120 b (second amplifier) via the matching network 131 b. Then, the amplifier 120 b amplifies the output signal and outputs a resulting amplified signal RF_(amp)B (second amplified signal).

In this configuration as well, switching on and off of passage of the input signals RF_(in)A and RF_(in)B is controlled by switching on one of the bipolar transistors Tra1, Tra2, Trb1 and Trb2, similarly to as in the power amplification circuit 100A. Therefore, with the power amplification circuit 100D, a power amplification circuit can be provided that includes a switch that can be used even when a large signal is input and that suppresses an increase in circuit area. In addition, the input signals RF_(in)A and RF_(in)B can be supplied to the amplifier 120 a or the amplifier 120 b. For example, the power amplification circuit 100D can be applied to a multimode multiband power amplification circuit that includes amplifiers 120 a and 120 b for input signals RF_(in)A and RF_(in)B of different frequencies, the amplifiers 120 a and 120 b operating in different modes, and in which the input signals RF_(in)A and RF_(in)B of different frequencies share the amplifiers 120 a and 120 b.

In this embodiment, a configuration in which there are two input paths and two bipolar transistors are provided for each of the input paths is described as an example, but the number of input paths and the number of bipolar transistors provided for each input path are not limited to two and may be one or three or more.

Next, simulation results for the frequency dependency of insertion loss in the power amplification circuit 100D will be described while referring to FIGS. 7A to 10B.

FIGS. 7A to 10B are graphs illustrating simulation results of the frequency dependencies of the insertion losses of the bipolar transistors Tra1, Tra2, Trb1 and Trb2 in the power amplification circuit 100D illustrated in FIG. 6. In the graphs illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 10B, the vertical axis represents insertion loss (scattering (S) parameter=20 log|S₂₁|) (dB) and the horizontal axis represents the frequency (GHz) of an input signal. In addition, P1 represents an input terminal Port 1 of the input signal RF_(in)A, P2 represents an input terminal Port2 of the input signal RF_(in)B, P3 represents an output terminal Port 3 of the bipolar transistors Tra1 and Trb1 (amplifier 120 a side) and P4 represents an output terminal Port4 of the bipolar transistors Tra2 and Trb2 (amplifier 120 b side) (refer to FIG. 6). The S parameter of an output terminal with respect to an input terminal is expressed as dB (S(output terminal, input terminal)).

FIG. 7A illustrates simulation results for dB(S(P3, P1)), dB(S(P3, P2)) and dB(S(P3, P4)) for a case where the power amplification circuit 100D is made to operate such that only the bipolar transistor Tra1 is switched on and the bipolar transistors Tra2, Trb1 and Trb2 are switched off and consequently the input signal RF_(in)A is supplied to the amplifier 120 a. Similarly, FIG. 7B illustrates simulation results for dB(S(P4,P1)), dB(S(P4,P2)) and dB(S(P4,P3)) for the same case. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the S parameter dB(S(P3, P1)) of the output of P3 with respect to the input of P1 is around −2 dB to −5 dB in all the frequency bands (2.0 to 3.0 GHz). In contrast, the S parameters for P3 from P2, P3 from P4, P4 from P1, P4 from P2 and P4 from P3 are smaller than around −20 dB. Therefore, it is clear that it is possible to selectively supply just the input signal RF_(in)A to the amplifier 120 a.

FIG. 8A illustrates simulation results for dB(S(P4, P1)), dB(S(P4, P2)) and dB(S(P4, P3)) for a case where the power amplification circuit 100D is made to operate such that only the bipolar transistor Tra2 is switched on and the bipolar transistors Tra1, Trb1 and Trb2 are switched off and consequently the input signal RF_(in)A is supplied to the amplifier 120 b. Similarly, FIG. 8B illustrates simulation results for dB(S(P3,P1)), dB(S(P3,P2)) and dB(S(P3,P4)) for the same case. As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the S parameter dB(S(P4, P1)) of the output of P4 with respect to the input of P1 is around −2 dB to −6 dB in all the frequency bands. In contrast, the S parameters for P4 from P2, P4 from P3, P3 from P1, P3 from P2 and P3 from P4 are smaller than around −20 dB. Therefore, it is clear that it is possible to selectively supply just the input signal RF_(in)A to the amplifier 120 b.

FIG. 9A illustrates simulation results for dB(S(P3, P1)), dB(S(P3, P2)) and dB(S(P3, P4)) for a case where the power amplification circuit 100D is made to operate such that only the bipolar transistor Trb1 is switched on and the bipolar transistors Tra1, Tra2, and Trb2 are switched off and consequently the input signal RF_(in)B is supplied to the amplifier 120 a. Similarly, FIG. 9B illustrates simulation results for dB(S(P4,P1)), dB(S(P4,P2)) and dB(S(P4,P3)) for the same case. As illustrated in FIG. 9A, the S parameter dB(S(P3, P2)) of the output of P3 with respect to the input of P2 is around −2 dB to −5 dB in all the frequency bands. In contrast, the S parameters for P3 from P1, P3 from P4, P4 from P1, P4 from P2 and P4 from P3 are smaller than around −20 dB. Therefore, it is clear that it is possible to selectively supply just the input signal RF_(in)B to the amplifier 120 a.

FIG. 10A illustrates simulation results for dB(S(P4, P1)), dB(S(P4, P2)) and dB(S(P4, P3)) for a case where the power amplification circuit 100D is made to operate such that only the bipolar transistor Trb2 is switched on and the bipolar transistors Tra1, Tra2, and Trb1 are switched off and consequently the input signal RF_(in)B is supplied to the amplifier 120 b. Similarly, FIG. 10B illustrates simulation results for dB(S(P3,P1)), dB(S(P3,P2)) and dB(S(P3,P4)) for the same case. As illustrated in FIG. 10A, the S parameter dB(S(P4, P2)) of the output of P4 with respect to the input of P2 is around −3 dB to −6 dB in all the frequency bands. In contrast, the S parameters for P4 from P1, P4 from P3, P3 from P1, P3 from P2 and P3 from P4 are smaller than around −20 dB. Therefore, it is clear that it is possible to selectively supply just the input signal RF_(in)B to the amplifier 120 b.

It is clear from the above-described simulation results that it is possible to selectively supply either of the input signals RF_(in)A and RF_(in)B to either of the amplifiers 120 a and 120 b by turning on one of the bipolar transistors Tra1, Tra2, Trb1 and Trb2 and turning off the rest of the bipolar transistors.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above. The power amplification circuits 100A, 100B, 100C and 100D each include: a bipolar transistor that has an emitter to which a radio frequency signal is supplied, a base to which a DC control voltage is supplied and a collector from which an output signal corresponding to the radio frequency signal is output; and a control circuit that generates the DC control voltage. Thus, a single bipolar transistor controls switching on and off of passage of an input signal. Therefore, a power amplification circuit can be provided that includes a switch that can be used even when a large signal is input and that suppresses an increase in circuit area.

Furthermore, in the power amplification circuits 100A, 100B, 100C and 100D, the emitter of the bipolar transistor, which functions as a switch, can be DC grounded via a resistance element and the base of the bipolar transistor can be AC grounded using a capacitor.

The power amplification circuit 100B includes n of each of a bipolar transistor, a control circuit and an amplifier, which are the same as those of the power amplification circuit 100A, connected in parallel with each other for a single input signal RF_(in). The emitters of the bipolar transistors are connected to each other and the input signal RF_(in) is supplied to the emitters. Therefore, switching on and off of the n bipolar transistors is controlled by the control circuits and the input signal RF_(in) can be selectively supplied to a prescribed amplifier.

In addition, the power amplification circuit 100C includes a bipolar transistor and a control circuit for each of a plurality of input signals RF_(IN) 1, RF_(IN) 2, . . . , and RF_(IN)N. The collectors of the bipolar transistors are connected to each other and the bipolar transistors respectively supply the output signals RF_(OUT) 1, RF_(OUT) 2, . . . , RF_(OUT)N. Therefore, switching on and off of N bipolar transistors is controlled by the control circuits and it is possible to supply only a specific input signal to the amplifier 120.

Furthermore, the power amplification circuit 100D includes bipolar transistors Tra1 and Tra2, bipolar transistors Trb1 and Trb2 and control circuits 110 a 1, 110 a 2, 110 b 1 and 110 b 2 that control switching on and off of the bipolar transistors for two input signals RF_(in)A and RF_(in)B, the components being similar to those of the power amplification circuit 100A. Thus, the input signal RF_(in)A or the input signal RF_(in)B can be supplied to the amplifier 120 a or the amplifier 120 b by switching on the appropriate one of the bipolar transistors Tra1, Tra2, Trb1 and Trb2.

Although npn-type bipolar transistors are used in this embodiment, pnp-type bipolar transistors may be used instead of the npn-type bipolar transistors.

The purpose of the embodiments described above is to enable easy understanding of the present disclosure and the embodiments are not to be interpreted as limiting the present disclosure. The present disclosure can be modified or improved without departing from the gist of the disclosure and equivalents to the present disclosure are also included in the present disclosure. In other words, appropriate design changes made to the embodiments by one skilled in the art are included in the scope of the present disclosure so long as the changes have the characteristics of the present disclosure. For example, the elements included in the embodiments and the arrangements, materials, conditions, shapes, sizes and so forth of the elements are not limited to those exemplified in the embodiments and can be appropriately changed. In addition, the elements included in the embodiments can be combined as much as technically possible and such combined elements are also included in the scope of the present disclosure so long as the combined elements have the characteristics of the present disclosure.

While preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims. 

1. A power amplification circuit comprising: a first matching circuit to which a radio frequency signal is input; a second matching circuit; a third matching circuit; a first switch, an output of the first matching circuit being supplied to an input of the first switch and an output of the first switch being supplied to the second matching circuit; a second switch, the output of the first matching circuit being supplied to an input of the second switch and an output of the second switch being supplied to the third matching circuit; a first control circuit configured to supply a first DC control current or a first DC control voltage to the first switch, thereby controlling the output of the first switch to the second matching circuit; and a second control circuit configured to supply a second DC control current or a second DC control voltage to the second switch, thereby controlling the output of the second switch to the third matching circuit.
 2. The power amplification circuit according to claim 1, wherein only one of the output of the first switch or the output of the second switch is supplied.
 3. The power amplification circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: a fourth matching circuit; a third switch, the output of the first matching circuit being supplied to an input of the third switch and an output of the third switch being supplied to the fourth matching circuit; and a third control circuit configured to supply a third DC control current or a third DC control voltage to the third switch, thereby controlling the output of the third switch to the fourth matching circuit.
 4. The power amplification circuit according to claim 3, wherein only one of the output of the first switch or the output of the third switch is supplied.
 5. The power amplification circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one amplifier supplied with an output of at least one of the second matching circuit or the third matching circuit, and configured to output an amplified signal corresponding to the input radio frequency signal.
 6. The power amplification circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: a first amplifier supplied with an output the second matching circuit and configured to output a first amplified signal corresponding to the input radio frequency signal; and a second amplifier supplied with an output of the third matching circuit and configured to output a second amplified signal corresponding to the input radio frequency signal.
 7. The power amplification circuit according to claim 6, wherein only one of the output of the first switch or the output of the third switch is supplied, thereby controlling output of only one of the first amplified signal or the second amplified signal.
 8. The power amplification circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first control circuit and the second control circuit comprise a plurality of bipolar transistors of the same type.
 9. The power amplification circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first switch and the second switch are field-effect transistors.
 10. The power amplification circuit according to claim 1, wherein the power amplification circuit is a multi-band power amplifier.
 11. The power amplification circuit according to claim 1, wherein the power amplification circuit is a multi-mode, multi-band power amplifier.
 12. The power amplification circuit according to claim 6, wherein the first control circuit and the second control circuit comprise a plurality of bipolar transistors of the same type.
 13. The power amplification circuit according to claim 6, wherein the first switch and the second switch are field-effect transistors.
 14. The power amplification circuit according to claim 6, wherein the power amplification circuit is a multi-band power amplifier.
 15. The power amplification circuit according to claim 6, wherein the power amplification circuit is a multi-mode, multi-band power amplifier. 